[TIP] Utilising the power of Paste Special

Paste Special is a very useful tool for detailing bits and bobs in your map. You can copy stuff from your main map into a new file, then copy and paste special it back into the main map at the exact same location.

It's an alternative to using the cordon tool which can particularly fiddly and annoying if you miss-click and have to recreate the cordon all over again.

Take this example.

Here's a simple ramp which I want to replace with stairs. I'll copy it (CTRL + C) and create a new map file (CTRL + N).

Right-click anywhere in the 2D views and choose 'Paste Special' (making sure 'Start at center of original' is ticked) then hit OK.

Oh look! - A ramp! Now you can create your staircase using this geometry as reference like so.

Once you're done, move the new geometry so it's aligned with the reference geometry like in the following image and hit CTRL + C to copy.

Cordon hides most of your map except the part you're working on, and if you compile it with cordon mode on it only compiles that part (automatically surrounding it with a sealed box to stop leaks).

Unfortunately you have to manually select what part should not be hidden. He's saying that instead of manually resizing it every time you want to make some complex stuff like stairs, you can make it in an uncluttered new map file.

Constructive Criticism is the most useful. If I tear apart your work it's not because I don't like it, it's because I do. If a user's Comment or Post is useful to you, Make sure to give them "Thanks!".

I actually prefer to use this when making a new version of my map. I might delete or change something so much stuff that I run out of undos after I want to fix it. Instead of closing the map file and reopening, I open the previous version, select the brushes/objects I want or need, and then I Paste Special them into the new version of the map. Works like a charm.

It is already saved as the next version. If I delete something and I can't get it back through undo's, I open the previous version of my map, copy the brushes I need, and then paste special into the new version.

This is useful if you haven't saved in a while, which is what happens to a lot of mappers when they really get into the zone and are working quick.